In K. Vary, opponents and supporters of the construction of a multifunctional hall gathered

Karlovy Vary - Today, in Karlovy Vary, about three hundred opponents and supporters of the multifunctional hall met in a rally in the city center, the construction of which began in the Tuhnice district this February. The meeting was called by a petition committee protesting against the construction, which costs about one billion crowns and is demanding a halt to this action and a reassessment of it. According to the petition initiators, the city does not have sufficient funds for such a project and will not be able to manage its operation.
    The initiator of the petition and the rally is Otmar Homolka, who, along with other committee members, reiterated several reasons why the hall should not be built. Among the most frequently mentioned arguments were the long-term debt of the city and the suspension of other necessary constructions, such as a home for the elderly. Another member of the petition committee, architect Josef Janů, then questioned whether the new hall should be multifunctional. According to him, it will serve exclusively hockey players and there will be no room for other sports. "For it to really be multifunctional, it would have to cost much more," he stated.
    The rally initiators gradually invited some opposition councilors to the microphone, and the meeting regarding the hall turned into a political rally aimed against the current ruling coalition in Karlovy Vary, ODS and ČSSD. Speakers criticized the recent sale of several historic buildings as well as the selection process for the hall's contractor. Several times, there were shouts about corruption. Opponents of the hall reacted to these arguments with whistling and shouts, also unfurling several banners supporting the construction of the hall.
    No one from the city leadership or the ODS and ČSSD coalition attended the rally today or spoke at it. The meeting called regarding the hall took place without incidents.
    The construction of the multifunctional hall, which began on February 1, is being carried out by a consortium of companies Syner, Baustav, and Metrostav, and intensive earthworks and preparation of the foundation pit are currently ongoing. The hall is expected to be completed within two years. Currently, there are two petitions circulating in the city. The first, demanding a halt to the construction, has already been signed by about 1500 people. The second, which supports the construction, has been signed by around 1700 people.